How to Make Holiday Luminaries

Luminaries are little candle lanterns made from small paper bags that line a walkway or driveway. In the Southwest, it's traditional to use brown paper bags at Christmastime; here we make colorful luminaries that will give your home that special holiday glow.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Measuring Tapes
• Sand
• Votive Candles
• Measuring Cups
• Paper Bags
• Lighters
• Lighters
• Paper bags
• Measuring cups

1. Determine where you want your luminaries to be located.

2. Measure the length of the area, and multiply by two, as you will need luminaries on both sides of the path.

3. Determine how many paper bags you will need. Luminaries are usually spaced between 6 inches and 2 feet apart, depending on the length of the area to be decorated and the desired look.

4. Purchase an equal number of green and red lunch-size paper bags. These are available at most craft and paper stores and range in price from about 15 cents to 35 cents each.

5. Purchase a small votive candle for each paper bag.

6. Purchase sand to weigh down the bags. Each bag should have about a 2-inch base of sand - about 2 c. for lunch-size bags.

7. Fill each bag with about 2 c. sand, and place the bags along the pathway to be decorated, alternating the green and red bags.

8. Twist a votive candle into the sand in the middle of the bag, making sure it's secure.

9. As dusk falls, light each candle for a striking holiday glow.

Tips & Warnings

• Some craft experts recommend placing the candles in glass holders inside the bag, although this is not necessary.
• Burning approximately 4 hours each evening, each votive candle will last about 4 days.
• Regular brown lunch bags can be spray-painted green and red if you can't find the colored bags at your craft or paper store.
• Some craft stores sell plastic and ceramic luminaries, if you're looking for something a little more permanent.
• Practice fire safety. Don't place luminaries in areas where they could spread fire if accidentally knocked over.
• Luminaries are best used in dry areas of the country. Exposure to snow or rain will destroy the bags - and their glowing effect.

on 8/8/2006 I was in a rush to make luminaries on Saint Patrick's day to decorate where I was to propose to my wife, and finding sand in our town wasn't easy. But we had plenty of kitty litter! So instead, I filled all the bags using kitty litter and a very handy litter scoop- it worked just as well as sand ever would, and probably smelled nicer too (though I never really took the time to notice- I was busy proposing). Litter, simple candles, and brown lunch bags were a beautiful effect by the lake- and neighbors all around asked later if it was an Irish tradition of ours!

on 11/22/2005 You can make a luminary out of old food cans, which makes them more resistant to wind. They won't blow over and cause a fire!

Save an old can, punch holes in it with a nail and hammer, and then spray paint it black (or whichever color you choose). Then fill and put the candle in just like as you would with a bag!

on 11/22/2005 If you can find a partially shaped round glass or ceramic luminaries at a craft store, you can use puff paint or other medium to decorate the luminaries as ornaments. It's a great project to do with the kids.

on 11/22/2005 If you take either one large craft punch or several small ones (of a snowflake shape, for instance) and punch the front of the luminary bag, it gives a pretty "die cut" look to the luminary.

on 11/22/2005 Fold over the top edge of the bag approximately 1 inch. This keeps the bags more "square". White bags look great.